Scottish-bred speedster American Affair bounced back into top form to capture the King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood, delivering a memorable victory for trainer Jim Goldie. The horse, a standout for Goldie's yard, had previously won the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer but was sidelined for the remainder of the 2025 campaign after sustaining an injury. After a promising second place behind Night Raider in the Temple Stakes at Haydock in May, which suggested the colt still possessed a solid level of ability, American Affair’s form had been somewhat erratic.
He finished last when attempting to defend his Ascot title and later ran out of contention in a Listed race at York. Those mixed results left him as a 12‑to‑1 outsider for his latest Group Two challenge.
In the Goodwood race, the youngster was positioned near the pace, running close to the stands rail where the early fractions were set. As the field turned into the home straight, American Affair, under the steady hands of regular jockey Paul Mulrennan, produced a powerful finishing burst.
He surged past rivals Rumstar and Time For Sandals down the centre of the track, while Australian‑trained Asfoora, who had been travelling well all day, produced her best run of the meeting to finish fourth. Goldie's senior partner stayed at the home stable, but his son George offered a heartfelt comment: "My dad is at Musselburgh, we couldn't both be here, but I think he'll be sorry to have missed out! My daughter rides him every day; he's a lovely‑natured horse and obviously very talented. We believed he could return to this level after the setback at the back end of last year." George continued, explaining the preparation process: "This year has been about rebuilding him to his best.
He gave us a glimpse of his ability at Haydock three runs ago, but Ascot was a disaster – he just pulled too hard. He ran well at York despite a poor draw, so we came to Goodwood hopeful. He's getting back into a proper rhythm and finishing his races strongly. We hoped today would suit him better, and it did." Looking ahead, George outlined the next steps in the horse's campaign: "The plan is to target the Nunthorpe next, then perhaps the Curragh, or we could stretch him out to six furlongs for the Haydock Sprint Cup.
We haven't entered him in the Abbaye yet; the Flying Five at the Curragh after the Nunthorpe looks more likely." Sky Sports Racing highlighted the significance of the win, noting that Mulrennan, a veteran of the weighing‑room, praised the effort: "He did everything right today, so, touch wood, he'll come back from this in good shape. We'll enjoy today, but the Nunthorpe is next, and maybe an American campaign would be nice. At this stage I probably have more years behind me than ahead, but I still feel strong.
It's a competitive game, and I've only got one ride this week, so we made it count." Mulrennan also reflected on his own racing history: "My wife Adele was with me the whole time. The last time I won this race was on Moviesta; Adele drove me then. I've won this race twice, and I feel I should have won it twice more – Easton Angel should have won, and Moviesta was unlucky another year. It's been a mix of luck and misfortune, but we got it right today." Wendy McGrandles of Barraston Racing, who co‑owns American Affair with Goldie, added perspective on the colt's journey: "He's had a couple of setbacks, but we always believed he was as good as he was last year.
For us small breeders, it's a once‑in‑a‑lifetime moment. I remember him as a foal and thought we might send him to eventing if he wasn't fast enough for racing. He was broken in for eventing because we weren't sure he'd have the size or speed for the track. He can always have that second career if needed!" In other news from the meeting, Karl Burke discussed his own plans after his horse Shayem denied the fast‑finishing favourite Talk Of New York in the HKJC World Pool Thoroughbred Stakes.
Shayem, a recent winner of the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket, stayed in a prime position behind the pacemaker Catullus and seized the lead inside the final half‑furlong, holding off Talk Of New York by half a length under jockey Clifford Lee. Burke explained the tactics: "We didn't have to lead, but we knew Billy (Loughnane, riding Catullus) would give a nice gallop, and Cliff was the only one to keep tabs on the leader.
Last year you might have called him a soft‑ground horse, but he proved otherwise this season. We had no concerns about the ground or track; he handled the Newmarket undulations well." He also mentioned future targets: "There is a nice race at Kentucky Downs in September and another at Colonial Downs.
They aren't Grade Ones, but they are valuable, and if we don't go there we could come back for the Celebration Mile." Meanwhile, Charlie Appleby will assess Talk Of New York's disappointing defeat before plotting his next move. Appleby reflected on the race dynamics: "At the top of the hill I thought they'd have to push a bit to get past the leader because he's no mug and likes the track. Stretching to the mile was always going to be the undoing of Catullus – stop the clock a furlong out and we were a comfortable winner." He added, "William said the front two stole a good march on him and they're sensible horses. We knew Catullus wouldn't see the mile out eventually, but Will said, 'I was only just getting rolling there the last furlong.' I'm not using the track as an excuse; the winner was sensible and improving, he did everything right, got a nice lead from us and used it, and we finished the race off." Appleby concluded, "Do we need to step up in trip?
Possibly. But he has to learn to settle a little more – that first furlong he wants to be aggressive, but I don't think that was the undoing of the race. The pace was on and they weren't coming back at the end of the day."